Book ends



Sept. 6, 1932. W RlDDEL 1,876,346

BOOK ENDS Filed DSC. 5, 1950 Patented Sept. 6,l 1932 WALTER BIDDEL, OF 'YREKA, CALIFORNIA BOOK ENDS Application. led December 5, 1930. Serial No. 500,215.

books, removal of a ook permitting retraction and resilient securing of the remaining books.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as outlined which may be moved about with the retained books, as a unit, due to the resilient connection between the cooperating members.

Further objects and advantages of the 1nvention will be apparent when the following description is read on the drawing formlng a part of this specification.

The invention consists primarily of a pair of oppositely disposed rectangular brackets, resiliently connected together, adjacent the 25 bottoms, whereby the brackets may be separated against the tension of the resilient connection, the resilient connection causing the brackets to grip books interposed there-v between, the books resting on the intervening connection.

The invention is adequately illustrated in the accompanying drawin in which Fig. 1 is a sectional e evation taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the book-end with a portion broken away to show the retracting means;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 2.

Similar'reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views.

The invention consists of the ends 5 having integral bases 6 in the bottom of which are formed housings 7 having an inside wall 8, the bottom of which is cut away forming a slot 9 for the web 10.

The web 10 may consist of a strip of elastic, or may 'be constructed as indicated in the 50 drawing, and which consists of a length of flexible webbing secured in the housing 7 of one bracket by means of .a clamp bar 11 securedby screws 12. The opposite end of the webbing is secured to a drum 13 mounted on shaft 14, said shaft being fixedly secured against rotation by means of set screws 15. Integral with or fixed to one end of drum 13 is a s ring barrel 16 in which is mounted a spirakspring 17 which has its outer end aiiXed to the spring barrel as at 18, the inner end being secured to shaft 14 as at 19. Slots 20 are provided for reception of the shaft 14.

The operation of the device is as follows: The web 10 is normally wound on the drum 13 by action of the spring 17 and retains the opposite brackets in contact. Forcing the brackets apart against the actionof spring 17 permits insertion of books as indicated at 21, and release of the brackets permits the web 10 to draw the brackets toward each other, gripping the books therebetween, the books resting on web 10, thereby permitting the book ends and books to be moved about as a unit.

It will be noted that an automatically adjustable book-end is thereby provided which has decided advantages over present types of book-ends, and that variations in construction and arrangement of parts which are consistent with the appended claim ma be resorted to without detracting from e spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

I claim A clamping device comprising a web, two blocks having bases and resiliently connected by said web, one end of said web being anchored to one ofl said blocks, a spring drum 4axially disposed in a recess in the other block parallel to the base and having journals removably secured in slots at .each end of the recess by means of set screws, the other end of saidpweb being attached to said spring drum, said spring drum operating 'against the web at all times tending to draw the blocks together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER RIDDEL. 

